LYNX SYSTEM UPDATEPineville/Ballantyne Rapid Transit Study

Staff Recommendations

Metropolitan Transit Commission

August 28, 2019

• MTC Adopted Light Rail for the LYNX Silver Line Southeast Corridor in November 2016

• CATS Presented the LYNX System Update Staff Recommendations as an information item at the January 23, 2019 Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting(MTC).

• At the February 27th meeting the MTC adopted the LYNX System Update recommendations.

LYNX System Update2016-2019

LYNX Silver Line

North Corridor

Regional Transit Study

PinevilleBallantyne

Pineville/Ballantyne Rapid Transit Study

• During LYNX System Update and Regional Transit Engagement Series, there was significant public interest in rapid transit to Pineville and Ballantyne

• In October 2018 the Town of Pineville passed a Resolution of Support to extend light rail to Pineville and Ballantyne

• The MTC directed CATS to continue the LYNX System Update study to evaluate rapid transit options including light rail extension to the Town of Pineville and the Ballantyne community

Outreach

Round 1 - Kick Off• April 13 Ballantyne Hotel• April 16 Belle Johnston Community Center

Round 2 - Ideas• May 8 Belle Johnston Community Center• May 11 Ballantyne Hotel

Round 3 - Recommendations• June 12 Belle Johnston Community Center• June 15 Ballantyne Hotel• July 22 Town of Pineville Board of Commissioners

Monthly Project Team meetings with NCDOT, Charlotte, and Pineville

Establish reliable transit to connect the region, enhance quality of life, and strengthen access to opportunities

Use transit to influence and shape growth while respecting community character

Increase mobility in each corridor through effective transit investments

Connect major employment / commercial areas in Pineville and Ballantyne to the CATS system with high-quality transit to increase access to opportunities for residents living elsewhere in the region

Pineville-Ballantyne Study Goals

Establish reliable transit to connect the region, enhance quality of life, and strengthen access to opportunities

Use transit to influence and shape growth while respecting community character

Increase mobility in each corridor through effective transit investments

Use transit as a catalyst to promote attractive urban / mixed-use development at major opportunity areas in Pineville and in Ballantyne, specifically including Carolina Place Mall and Ballantyne Corporate Park

Pineville-Ballantyne Study Goals

Establish reliable transit to connect the region, enhance quality of life, and strengthen access to opportunities

Use transit to influence and shape growth while respecting community character

Increase mobility in each corridor through effective transit investments

Increase overall corridor capacity by providing additional access points to the transit system in congested corridors such as I-485 and Johnston Road

Pineville-Ballantyne Study Goals

Carolina Place Mall + The Centrum (~180 acres)

Major Opportunity Areas

Ballantyne Corporate Park (~535 acres)

Major Opportunity Areas

Comparison to SouthPark

Major Opportunity Areas

Comparison to South End

Major Opportunity Areas

Comparison to Uptown

Major Opportunity Areas

Study Recap

April May June

Phase 3

Refinement of remaining alignment options

• Further analysis including results of public survey

Staff recommendations where appropriate

Identification of key next steps

Public Meetings Round 3

Phase 1

Setting the stage

• Understanding the need for better transit

Initial public survey

• Important characteristics of transit

Public Meetings Round 1

Phase 2

Initial screening of alignment options

• Removed alignments with major environmental challenges

Second public survey

• General alignment preferences

Public Meetings Round 2

Carolina Place Mall area is the primary desired destination in

Pineville

Destinations on either side of Johnston Rd/521 are evenly

split

Phase 1 Public Outreach Key Findings

Study Recap

April May June

Phase 3

Refinement of remaining alignment options

• Further analysis including results of public survey

Staff recommendations where appropriate

Identification of key next steps

Public Meetings Round 3

Phase 1

Setting the stage

• Understanding the need for better transit

Initial public survey

• Important characteristics of transit

Public Meetings Round 1

Phase 2

Initial screening of alignment options

• Removed alignments with major environmental challenges

Second public survey

• General alignment preferences

Public Meetings Round 2

1. Connect Pineville and Ballantyne to Blue Line at I-485 / South Blvd. station

2. Light rail route as a continuous extension of the Blue Line

3. Carolina Place is more critical to serve than Downtown Pineville

4. There is a need for near term transit options

5. Future rapid transit extensions will be addressed through the Regional Transit Study

Overall Principles

• Different direction from current Blue Line than Ballantyne

• Extending past Ballantyne toward Fort Mill is circuitous (long travel time) and primarily low-density residential uses

• Recommendation to review transit routes and modes in upcoming Regional Transit Study

Study area

Access to York County

Pineville Initial Screening

Removed options with major environmental challenges

• Route option along Leitner Drive (north of NC 51) would impact the future Marsh Park, would be in a floodway, and would affect an identified burial ground

Phase II Public Survey Results

PINEVILLE OPTION A

PINEVILLE OPTION B

Decision to Operate Along I-485 Corridor

• Alignments west of the Wastewater Treatment Plan have significant floodway / wetlands impacts

• Major power corridor also creates significant challenges

• No station-area development opportunities

(1,325 responses)

BALLANTYNE OPTION A BALLANTYNE OPTION B

Phase II Public Survey Results

Study Recap

April May June

Phase 3

Refinement of remaining alignment options

• Further analysis including results of public survey

Staff recommendations where appropriate

Identification of key next steps

Public Meetings Round 3

Phase 1

Setting the stage

• Understanding the need for better transit

Initial public survey

• Important characteristics of transit

Public Meetings Round 1

Phase 2

Initial screening of alignment options

• Removed alignments with major environmental challenges

Second public survey

• General alignment preferences

Public Meetings Round 2

Pineville Findings

• Pineville Option B is recommended

➢ Closer access to more opportunities (including downtown)

➢ Greater potential to support growth in a transit-friendly way

• Visioning for the future station areas should occur to facilitate more detailed alignment development

• Alignment design should be advanced to develop more details on property requirements and potential impacts

BALLANTYNE OPTION AREFINEMENTS MADE

• Extend alignment beyond Brixham Hill Ave. (closer to Ballantyne Village)

• Shift terminus station south toward Ballantyne Commons Parkway

• Grade separation for rail over BrixhamHill Ave.

• Consider location as terminus

BALLANTYNE OPTION BREFINEMENTS MADE

• Identification of conceptual alignment integrated with Ballantyne Corporate Park west of US 521 to maximize access to available acreage

• Continuation of conceptual alignment to east side of US 521 to serve potential “Ballantyne Reimagined” development concept

• Consider location near Community House Rd. as terminus station

Ballantyne Findings

• Ballantyne recommended as terminus due to its function as a regional activity center with major growth opportunities

• Advance design of Ballantyne Option B in order to preserve a corridor and coordinate with private development

• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service using the I-485 express lanes is recommended to improve the connection between the Blue Line, Ballantyne, and areas to the south in the near term

Staff Recommendations

• Extend light rail to Carolina Place Mall in Pineville and to the Ballantyne Corporate Park.

• Advance light rail design in order to coordinate with the Town of Pineville and Ballantyne Corporate Park Ownership.

• Begin BRT service to Ballantyne Corporate Park when the I-485 express lanes open.

• Advance BRT design in order to coordinate Ballantyne Corporate Park Ownership.

• Evaluate rapid transit corridors to York and Lancaster Counties as part of the Regional Transit Study.

• Expansion of remaining Blue Line stations to accommodate 3-car platforms

• Consider parking expansion at I-485 / South Blvd. station

• Consider Blue Line extension and/or platform expansion to mitigate construction impacts of future I-77 widening

Additional Considerations

Questions?